Door holding device



Oct. 4, 1932. L. A. 'BITTORF 1,880,713

DOOR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 19:51 2 sheets-sheet 1 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 I UNITED STATES LOUIS A- BITTORF, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL MANUFACTURING means PATENT series COMPANY, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS noon HOLDING DEVICE Application filed December 18, 1931. Serial No. 581,796.

My invention relates to door-holding devices of that general type adapted to latch and retain swinging doors, and the like, in predetermined open position preventing accidentalclosing of thesame. 'VVhile my 1nvention is adapted to various kinds otdoors ofthis character, it is-well suited for garage, orfsimilar, doors. This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 503,166, filed December 18.,

1930, for door holding devices.

One of. the objects of my invention is to provide an improved, simpleand inexpensive device otthe foregoing character which is positive in action and which is adapted to automatically secure. and hold a swinging door against closing due to any jar, force or shock as the door is moved to a predetermined open position, the same also being capable of ready and convenient release of the door when it is desired to close the same.

. A further object is toprovide a door holding device which is exceptionally strong and durable and which includes an arm swingably carried by the door and movable through a keeper. device stationarily supported by the door frame, which keeper device pivotally supports gravity-operated latch meansengageable with the arm for holding the door in its open position; and the latch means is releasable by structure carried by the swinging arm, which structure is arranged for ease-in actuation for closingof the door. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a partialelevational view of a door structure (the. upper portion cut away) embodying my invention, the parts of such structure being shown in door-closed position; I 1

V Fig. 2 is a view of the structure of Fig. 1 taken substantially at the position indicated in line 22 of Fig. 1, and showing the door and door holder parts; in full lines in their open position and in dotted lines in their closed position v Fig. 3 is an'enlarged, fragmentary, top

plan view of the door holder device of the previous figures;

Fig. 4 is'a vertical sectional view through the keeper and door-holding arm, taken substantiallyon line 44 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a'section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and showing-the latch structure and associated parts in latched posi- I tion for holding the door open V Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.5 except showing the latch structure actuated to an unlatched position forclosing of the door; 1

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a modilied form of structure embodying my invena tion, the parts being tion; and

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. 7.

shown in latching posi- It will be understood that while I have I chosen to illustrate my invention in its application tothe particular structure shown, I do not wish to be limited to the same since it is obvious that it has utility in any installation where it is desired to automatically latch'the swinging member in a predetermined open position and in condition for ready and convenient release of the latch when it is desired to close the swinging member, all without interference with the free and easy movement of the swinging member;

Referring particularly to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the doorway is formed by top and side frame members 10, 11, in which are received doors 12,12 swingably supported upon the side frame members llhy hinges 13' (only one shown). These doors are of a type well adapted for garages (where one or more doors are employed) and my invention provides the following means for latching and holding the door in open position to avoid closing of the same by draughts, gusts of wind, jars, shocks, etc, when a vehicle isv being moved into or removed from the garage throughits doorway,

in cross. section is mounted forv horizontal swingingmovement on a bracket '15 secured to the inner surface of the door 12 near its top. This arm pivotally supports, as at 16 (Fig. 1) within its U-section an unlatching bar 17 which is swingable about the pivot 16 by means of a chain 18 to project its outer end 17 upwardly through a longitudinal, notched opening 14 in the top part of the arm 14 at its non-pivoted end and immediately inward of an abutment member 19. This abutment member 19 is held between the U-sideS of the arm at its outer end by means of rivets, or the like, 20, and it is provided at its bottom with a shelf-likeextension 19 which is adapted to be engaged by the flat-bottom end portion 17 b of the unlatching bar 17 to limit the downward or released position of such bar."

The arm 14 is supported and guided by a keeper '21 of angular shape having its horizontalweb 21 securedto the upper part of the top frame member 1.0, preferably,-at the position illustrated in Figs. land 2. The vertical web. 21? of this keeper is provided with an opening 21 through Which the arm 14 slidably passes. The location ofthe keep or is such that when the door is fully opened,

the flat side 19 of the stop abutment 19 seats flat; against the rear side of the'keeper above the opening 21, thus limiting the opening movement of the door. Y

The door is automatically latched in its full open position by latch plate 22 adapted to engage in the notch 14 in the end of arm 14. This latch plate is pivotally connected at one end, as at 23,'to the latch plate at one side of the keeper opening 21 and it has a cutout providing an opening-'24- of substantially the same width as the keeper opening, the same being adapted to align with the keeper v opening. The latchplate is movable under the influenceof gravity to its latching'positlon and it is essential to the positive and proper operation of the same that it move instantly into that position without any drag action; otherwise, in rapidly opening or slamming the door the latch might not engage the armnotch, resulting in failure of-the. door to remain in its open position. It isalso desirable that the latch member be main- 7 H tained in apredetermined slide-relationship with respect to its supporting keeper surface to avoid noisy operation, excessive wear and to insure maximum strength and durability. To these ends, I increase the weight of the latch member quite materially by providing its upper edge with a horizontal'flange 25 which extends outwardlyand' over the upper side of the arm 14. This fiangealso serves to limit the extent of drop of thelatch plate into the arm notch so that the latch plate is always maintained in the positionmost suited formost efiicient operation. In additionto this, the flange 25 adds strength and rigidity to the latch plate fortifying itself and the keeper against door-opening shocks 'as well as strains and stresses imposed thereon by 'lation with respect thereto.

to permit the desired freedom of movement and with this added weight the drop movement of the latch member is practically instantaneous so that immediately upon movement of the door toits open pos1t1on and registry of the arm notch 14 with the latch member 22, the latch will fall into an engaged position in the notch, automatically latching the door in open position. This latching action is assured notwithstanding the force or speed with which the" door is moved to open position, or any other condition which might tend to jar or deflect the parts and tend to prevent proper latch engagement.

The foregoing feature is quite important from the standpointthat it insures this positive latching action throughout the entire life' of the, structure. Demonstration has clearly shownthat this action' takes place notwithstanding rust, corrosion, and the like,'conditions which'may occur in use. It will also be appreciated that after the structure has been in use for some time, it may be painted, or otherwise treated to withstand the weather and other deterioratingconditions. My invention insures against sluggish and improper latching operation of the latch means under such circumstances. a

The turned-back end portion 26 of the latch member-also interlocks the same with the vertical web of the keeper so that it is at all times maintained in predetermined slide re- Further, this arrangement, according to my invention, enables the use of a very simpleand inexpensive latching structure which is always an item of. considerable importance to be taken'in consideration in structures of this character. It insures desired freedom'in movement of operating parts without giving up strength, durability and other advantages of the same. In the operation of the structure so farndescribed, so long as the door is in its-closed position, or a partially closedposition, with the arm 14 slid entirely, or partially through the keeper opening, the upper part of the arm holds the latch member 22 in a raised position (Fig. 1). However, when the door moves to an open position, and as the abutment 19 is almost engaged, the latch member 22 drops downwardly into the notch 14* as above shown in Fig. 5. To release the latch member for'the closing of the" door, it is only necessary to pull downwardlyon the chain 18 swinging the latch-engaging end of the latch bar 17 upwardly to engage and raise the latch member 22 as best shown in Fig. 6.

As the chain 18 is manipulated asv stated, it

wardly toward a closed position thereby holding the latch plate disengaged until the arm 14. has moved through the keeper opening sufficiently to move its latch-notch beyond the keeper. It will be noted that the latch bar 17 extends substantially throughout the length of the arm 14 and that it is pivotally supported at one end so that it will always positively move under the influence of gravity to its unlatching position. This arrangement elimis nates the use of springs.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I show another form of gravity-operated latch member pivotally supported by the keeper. In this form, the arm 27 and unlatching bar 28 are substan tially of the same construction as the corresponding parts of the previously-described structure. The general form of the keeper 29 is also the same, which keeper is provided with an opening 30 in its vertical web through which the arm slides. The horizontal web of thiskeeper is provided near its free end with a pair of depending ears ol which are, preferably, struck from the mate rial of the keeper; but which, desired, may be separately formed and secured to the keeper. The latch member 32 takes. a shape with the outer edge of its U-arms pivotally secured as at 33 to the depending ears 31 so that its U-base portion 32 always tends to fall downwardly by gravity. lVhen the door is in its closed position, this latch member is held raised by the top of the llarm and as the door moves into its fully opened position, the U-portion 3% drops down into the notch 34 just inwardly of the abutment 35 thereby latching the door in its open position. To unlatch the arm 27, the unlatching bar 28 (pivotally supported by arm 2?) is operated to swing its outer end upwardly to engage the latch member 32 thereby raising the latter out of the notch 34 so that the arm will slide freely through the keeper opening 30 as in the previously described structure.

lVhile I have shown and described only two forms of structure embodying my invention, it will be understood that other changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. Door holder structure which comprises of said arm, and means carried by said arm. and gravity-operated in one direction for moving said latch member from said notch to release said arm. a

2. Door holder structure which COIIlP1lSS a keeper member adapted to be secured to a frame member forming a doorway, a door holding arm adapted to be swingably mounted at one end to a door, said keeper having an opening in which said arm is 5 slidably received, a gravity latch member pivotally ecured at one end to said keeper and adapted to fall down over said keeper opening, said arm having in the upper part of its free end portion a notch in which said "J" latch member is received in the door open position of said arm, an unlatching bar of approximately the length of said arm pivotally supported by said arm adjacent the pivotal support of the latter for gravity movement to an unlatching position, and means for moving said bar into unlatching engagement with said latch member.

i 3. In door holding structure, a keeper havmg an opening, a door holding arm adaptedi to be supported at one end for horizontal swinging movement and having a notch in the upperside adjacent its other end, a latch plate pivotally supported at one end by said he er to one side 01" the opening in the latter and U55 adaptedto fall by gravity down over said keeper opening to engage in said arm notch, said latch plate having a horizontal flange extending from its upper edge away from saidkeeper, and also having its non-pivoted T00 end extended and turned back freely over the adjacent edge of the keeper.

l. In door holding structure, a. keeper having an opening, a door holding arm adapted to be supported at one end for horizontal' swinging movement and having a notch inthe upper side adjacent its other end, a latch plate pivotally supported flat-wise at one end by and upon said keeper to one side of the open ing in the latter andad pted to fall by gravc ity down over said keeper opening to engage in said arm notch, said latch plate having its free end extended beyond the keeper and turned back freely upon the latter for vertical and lateral guidance of the latch member in it pivotal movementback anc forth over said keeper opening.

Indoor holding structure, a keeper" having an opening, a door holding arm adapted to be supported at one end for horizontal swinging movement and having a notch in r the upper side adjacent its other end, a latch plate pivotally supported at one end by said keeper to one side of the opening in the latn 5 ter and adapted to fall by gravity down over said keeper opening to engage in said arm notch, said latch plate having a horizontal flange extending from its upper edge away from said keeper, and adapted to engage the O upper side of said arm in the latching position of said latch member.

6. A door holder which comprises a keeper having a vertical web and a horizontal web,

Q said vertical web having an opening and said horizontal web being adapted to be secured to the door frame, a door-holding arm adapt- I ed at one end to be swingably secured to the a door with its other end projecting and slid- 10: ing through said keeper opening, a gravity latch member pivotally secured at one end to said horizontal web with its other end projected toward and adapted to fall down over said keeper opening, said arm having in its upper free end portion a notch in which said other end of said latch member is received in the door-open position of said arm, and means carried by said arm for moving said other end of said latch member out'of said notch to release said arm.

7. A door holder which comprises a keeper having a vertical web and a horizontal web, said vertical web having an opening and said horizontal web being adapted to be secured T25 to the door frame, a-door-holding .arin adapted at one end to be swingably secured to the door with its other end projecting sliding through said keeper opening, a pair of spaced arms depending from said horizon- ?80 'tal web near its outer end, a U-shaped latch member having the ends of its U-arms pivoted to said spaced web arms, said door arm having at its upper free end portion a notch into'which the U-base of said latch member *3! falls when said arm is moved to its dooropen position, and means carried by said door arm adapted to engage said latch member Ubase to move the latter out of said notch to release said door arm for movement t 4.0 door-closed position.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

' LOUIS A. BITTORF. 

